R. Rich

You saw the absolute best of the game, then. Honestly Cindy, it was brutal to watch.

Get well soon, Trent. The Bills need you @ full strength in order to get that elusive playoff bid this year. Next time you see Adrian Wilson, one of the very best safeties in the league @ blitzing, line up that close to the line, expect him to come after you and be ready to step up and throw, roll out to give yourself more time to make a play, or maybe even take off and run for a few yards instead of getting blasted. Ah well, it's all part of the maturation process, and I'm sure Trent will be better prepared for such situations down the road. Yeah yeah the defense was awful and cost the Bills the win blah blah blah. This all seems very familiar to me. Kinda like the '04 season, when the facts that the Bills couldn't guard multiple receiver sets, struggled to rush the passer, and were atrocious on third downs were all lost in the haze of a very sweet win streak that had the team just a game away from a playoff spot. We all remember what happened from there, don't we? Hey, I love this team and the 4-0 start, but there were signs of a performance like this during that streak. I mentioned from the outset how I felt that the LBs struggled covering the pass. That hasn't changed. I mentioned how our LBs and DEs needed to do a lot more in terms of pass rushing and coverage. The problems persist. 'Til the team corrects these issues, there's gonna be chances of more performances like yesterday's. It's all your fault, JP! Yes, I hear the cries from afar. Damn you for not being able to solving the mystery that is Pro Bowl caliber OT Mike Gandy. Damn you for playing so far off the receivers, allowing for quick slant after quick slant w/ an occasional crossing route mixed in. Damn your poor attempts to tackle, allowing the Cardinals to get truckloads of yards after the catch. Damn you for not blocking that D lineman that shot in there to disrupt the play that caused the fumble. Yep, I blame you. Okay, now back to reality here. Sure, the team could've benefitted from a better effort from Losman. No doubt 'bout it. But to blame everything on his play is ridiculous. Anyone see Posluszny yet? I know it's customary to wait 48 hours to file a report, but... Jauron, why didn't you challenge that call? Maybe you realized the player in question was the TE, and just figured he blew it? I dunno. What a disappointing outing by the O line. I mean, Travis LaBoy is good, but he ain't that good. Pass protection is the strength of this line, but man were they outclassed. As for the running game, I'm still waiting to see this line perform up to its potential. A line this huge should not be allowing a stud back like Lynch to get constantly hammered each time he touches the ball. It's like watching Roethlisberger trying to throw in front of the Stillers' line. Yuck. I love the whole "beast mode" thingy, but it sure would be nice to see the 5 beasts in front of Marshawn give him a free pass to the 2nd level. Then, the league would truly see the kind of beast Marshawn is. Okay, bottom line is that the Bills limp into the bye w/ a 4-1 record. Not bad. Did anyone here think they'd do that prior to the start of the season? I didn't. Yes, there are issues they need to solve, and we can only hope the coaches get to work on making the proper adjustments needed to solve them. Speaking of, I did like the way the DBs actually got up to the line and challenged the Arizona receivers early in the 3rd quarter. I've been wondering why the Bills haven't done more of that. Then, I remembered just how well they rush the passer. Anyway, everyone try to relax a bit. No jumping out of windows, no "_____ sucks!" or "Fire _____" threads are needed. This team is close to being a postseason contender, folks. They just need to work on some things. Quickly.

Of course, I should've posted this before Thursday's game, as Pittsburgh took out a pretty good South Florida team 26-21 by running the ball extremely well (LeSean McCoy, a sophomore to watch out for, was awesome w/ 142 yards in the contest). Ah well. Here's a few games I'll be watching/tivo'ing/VCR recording this week: GAME #1: PENN STATE @ Purdue Why this game?: Well, duh! But anyway, I am treating the play of senior QB Daryll Clark the same way I'm treating the great 4-0 start of our beloved Bills: I like it, but I want to see more before I get all crazy 'bout it. PSU has looked great @ home for the most part over the past couple seasons, but has looked nearly as bad on the road also. Purdue is struggling now (QB Curtis Painter, one of my preseason all conference picks, in particular) and PENN STATE should be able to go in there and put together a dominating performance. Then again, I'm still not sold on the PSU linebackers this season (we miss you, Sean Lee!), though our D line and secondary have played very well. Player(s) To Watch Out For: Clark, for one. He is having a very good year so far, and I'm hoping he'll continue the trend. He is said to be a very good friend and willing pupil to Michael Robinson, PSU's former Big 11 Player of the Year who is trying to ensure Clark doesn't get overwhelmed in his first (and last) year as the starter. Also, I have been a fan of Aaron Maybin, a DE out of Ellicott City MD (just down the street from where I live). I like the rush he brings off the edge and his intensity. Sometimes, it needs to be controlled by him better (no more roughing calls!), but the guy has really made an impact for the PSU defense this year. I'm also going to be watching Painter, to see if this is his wake up call or if he continues his slump. Personlly, I hope the slump continues, but I'm surprised to see him struggling like this. Prediction: PENN STATE wins, but not the dominating blowout we Lions fans would like to see. We are on the road, after all. PENN STATE 27 - Purdue 20. GAME #2: Texas Tech @ Kansas State Why this game?: I always like to see @ least a few Tech games every year, just to see how well their line does in pass protection (they throw the ball all day) and to see if there are any diamonds in the rough in terms of their skill players. QB Graham Harrell has already thrown for over 1,500 yards and has 12 TDs on the year for the Red Raiders and while super sophomore WR Michael Crabtree has been on the end of the majority of those completions, there's another sophomore in Detron Lewis to look out for. RB Shannon Woods is back on track and looking pretty good this year also. Player(s) To Watch Out For: Start w/ the aforementioned Crabtree and Lewis. Two of a bunch of talented sophomores all 'round the NCAA, they are a nice duo for Harrell to utilize. K State signal caller Josh Freeman is no slouch either. He has recently gone over 6,300 passing yards for his career, putting him atop the school's all time list ahead of former record holder Lynn Dickey (also a former punching bag while w/ the Packers, for those who remember). Junior wideout Brandon Banks is a bit small @ 5-7 and 170lbs, but he can get open and has become Freeman's main target. Prediction: While K State is 3-1 on the year, they haven't had a conference game yet. Woods should have a good outing vs a pitiful Wildcat run defense in leading the Red Raiders to victory. Texas Tech 37 - Kansas State 17 GAME #3: Ohio State @ Wisconsin Why this game?: Two of the Big 11's best meet up in what should be a very tough contest. Wisconsin has some questions to answer, though. How will the Badgers bounce back from their huge choke job of last week, when they blew a 19 point halftime lead and lost 27-25 to Michigan? How will they be able to contain the running of both Beanine Wells and Terrell Pryor? If they can answer these, and if they can continue to run as well as they usually do (averaging over 218 yards per game), then we may have ourselves a ball game, folks. Player(s) To Watch Out For: For starters, I'll be watching the defense of TOSU to see how they'll try to stop the running of P.J. Hill and John Clay. They have looked surprisingly slow and non athletic (the Ohio U and USC games come to mind) and need to have a great showing here. Also, I'll watch the progress of Pryor. I think he's an incredible talent that will only get better. Prediction: Camp Randall Stadium will be rocking tonight for this one, and I think they'll actually pull off an upset here. They haven't lost in their house in 3 years (Iowa), and it won't happen now. Next week, when PENN STATE comes to town, might be a different story, but..... Wisconsin 20 - Ohio State 17 GAME #4: Texas @ Colorado Why this game?: Are the 5th ranked Longhorns for real? Is Colt McCoy ready for prime time? Can Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins reverse the losing trend this team has had in recent years in regard to their meetings w/ the Longhorns? We'll find out. Player(s) To Watch Out For: While I'd rather watch the Texas A&M-Oklahoma State to get more tape on Ok State TE Brandon Pettigrew, there's a couple players to watch in this one also. I'll start w/ Texas QB McCoy. He has been outstanding to start the season, but now it's time to gear up for the conference games. Let's see what the kid can do. As for Colorado, I want to see what impact (if any) DT George Hypolite can have in this one. He'd better start having some impact, as the Buffs give up over 170 yards per game on the ground. Also, let's see how QB Cody Hawkins, the coach's son, rebounds from a tough loss to Florida State last week. Prediction: I'm sure the Colorado fans are hoping and praying that this is a trap game for Texas, who gets a crack @ the top ranked Sooners next week in the annual Red River Shootout (or whatever the heck they call it now; stupid sponsors). I don't see it. While I don't see a replay of the last time they met (a 70-3 beatdown Texas delivered en route to their national title), I do see the Longhorns getting their 6th win in the last 7 games w/ Colorado. Texas 34 - Colorado 14 Enjoy the games, folks!

Yeah. And, to think, he wanted to do that in his initial post, before the sophomoric and all too obvious responses came forth. I think he showed a great deal of restraint.

Alright now, let's try to keep it civil. The guy posted a tidbit that he didn't know, and wanted to share w/ others who may not have known. If you already knew it, congratulations for being a well informed Bills fan. Move on.

So do I.

Now children.....

I saw G. Host had posted this in the Bills Backers forum, and I wanted to make sure that I posted it here also, in case anyone missed it: Jimmy's Proudly Welcomes former Washington Redskin and NFL Hall of Fame Member, Charley Taylor, and Former NHL Enforcer & Buffalo Sabre, Rob Rayzor Ray, to Jimmy's on October 19, 2008 for our Annual Charity Tailgate Party! Charley and Rob will be available throughout the event for autographs and photos to benefit "The Charley Taylor Scholarship Fund" and the "University of Buffalo Scholarship Fund"! Rob will also be signing copies of his book, "Rayzor's Edge", which was published 2007! No reservations needed, just show up early and grab a seat! Fantastic Raffle Prizes to Include Autographed Footballs, Hockey Sticks, Books, Sabres/Capital's tix, and more! Special thank you to the "House of Speed" for donating prizes autographed by Bill's Great, Don Beebe! http://www.houseofspeed.com/about.html Special Welcome to the University Of Buffalo Alumni Group! This is a Rain or Shine Event under the Giant Canopy! Please see our flier for more details!

Don't get me wrong. There's some great opportunities for entertaining games in the ACC, such as NC State's big win over East Carolina. I watched that game from start to finish (I even tivo'd it and later recorded it to keep), and it was one of the best college games I've watched this year. Nice back and forth action w/ the game going down to the wire, much like the Pirates' win over Va Tech earlier this year.

I'm interested in seeing The Express.

Sounds like Bill from NYC to me.

I'll bet you do.

The ACC is pretty average this season. That's how I sum it up.

Snarky begats snarky, it seems. Everyone play nice now. No problem w/ the difference of opinions (I don't agree w/ any of you), but there's also no need to try to stuff your own opinions down the throats of everyone else.

17th

Happy birthday. Have a great day. As long as you steer clear of Baltimore, you probably will.

Have a great birthday. See you in a couple weeks.

I look forward to it.

My wife took her username from said sign, which has been hanging in that stadium since it opened. It was also hanging in Three Rivers Stadium prior to Heinz.

Not quite. Any time. Darin's wife is Belinda. Maybe next year. We'll see.

Another slow start followed by some gutsy play down the stretch. It's tough to realize that for this year, the cliches can actually work for Bills fans. Meaning, it isn't over 'til it's over and there is still hope for the team to turn it 'round after a slow start. As a fan of this team for nearly 30 years, this is a very welcome and refreshing trend. That Poznotchigazoaki kid, or however you say it, is a decent linebacker. He's still a work in progress, but he gives a great effort and pursues well. He can take poor angles @ times, but then again, so do the other 'backers. I don't happen to have a program or my media guide handy, so I can't recall their names. I know the one guy had some nice tackles for 5 yard gains though. Ironic, as so did the other guy who wore #59 before him. James Hardy is having a brutal frosh campaign. He's trying hard, but maybe too hard. Better focus and maybe a bit more of a relaxed attitude could probably help him out so that he makes those clutch catches and can become the go to guy for Edwards in the red zone. Josh Reed continues to make clutch plays, which is odd 'cause I'm sure I read somewhere here 'bout how he sucks. Oh, and the guy who wants the big bucks? Nice couple of catches (Trent put the ball in near perfect position each time), but there's still a few lapses in concentration. Still, is this a sign that he's getting back to form? I hope so. O line wise: the pass protection is still spotty, and the run blocking isn't great either. I'd love to see these big monsters just fire off the ball and take the D line back for 7 yards, which would allow Marshawn to get to the second level more often. Considering how well he runs w/ 5 D linemen on his back, how well do you think he'd do if he got past the line of scrimmage untouched? He's proven very tough to bring down and can make people miss in the open field too. I just wish I could see him get more of those chances. Trent Edwards really looks like the real thing. As I said earlier, those throws to Evans were a thing of beauty. He's only going to get better in terms of blitz recognition. It's a better situation than the Bills have been in for quite a while. We had a blast in St Louis. I only wish I could've met more TBDers before the game, but I was able to hang out a bit w/ Beerball (the wings @ that jazz club were awesome) and w/ Alaska Darin, his wife, and one of his good friends. Of course, I got to have nearly a week of vacation w/ my wife, Psycho Ward 86, which was easily the best part of the long weekend. Well, no travel for a weekend (thank God), so I can relax a bit and try to get caught up w/ my college football watching and reporting. Oh yeah, so the Bills are 4-0, huh????

It all depends on how you use it.

I am trying to see if we can put something together for Saturday night. I called the hotel we're staying @, the Omni Majestic, to see if they could spare a room to meet in, but I haven't heard back from them. Psycho Ward 86 and I are flying out to STL early tomorrow, so unless they get back to me this afternoon, looks like we'll have to come up w/ a backup plan.

No need to be rude 'bout it.

Bill from NYC has forgotten more 'bout O line petitions that many of you have ever learned.